Timing apparatus



c. WQGREGG TIMING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1968PRESSURIZEO m U L F IN V EN TOR.

CHARLES w. eases AG E NT United States Patent Int. Cl. Gb 19/44 US. Cl.137624.15 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus forprogramming a plurality of pressurized fluid actuated devices, such asfluid amplifiers, and including a series of perforate members havingcircular peripheries bearing against a rotatable drive shaft under forceof gravity for rotation therewith, such members being readily manuallylifted and rotated for varying or adjusting program timing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the field ofpressurized fluid actuated apparatus, such as fluid amplifiers forexample. It is well known, for example, to actuate a plurality of fluidamplifiers or similar devices in a predetermined sequence controlled bya perforate tape, card or disk passing between the input tubes of saidamplifiers or fluid devices, and pressurized fluid output tubes disposedopposite said tubes and slightly spaced therefrom. The sequence ofoperation of said amplifiers or fluid devices depends on the relativelocations of the perforations in said tape, card or disk, as is wellknown in the art. In

order to vary or adjust the sequence of said amplifiers or devices, newperforate tapes, cards or disks are substituted for those previouslyemployed. Such new perforate items have their perforations at locationsthereon which differ from those on the previously employed perforateitems, thereby varying the sequence in which jets of pressurized fluidare permitted to flow between said pressurized fluid output tubes andsaid input tubes of the fluid amplifiers or similar devices.

It is believed obvious that, if a fluid actuated device is actuated atan incorrect point in time in a period of a sequence of actuations of aplurality of such devices, controlled by a perforate tape, card or disk,it is expedient, in order to correct for such incorrect operation, tosubstitute a new tape, card or disk for the incorrectly perforated onerather than to. change the locations of the input tube of theincorrectly actuated device and the associated output tube. Furthermore,if only small adjustments in the time sequence of said actuations aredesired, it is similarly expedient to substitute new tapes, cards ordisks for the incorrectly perforated ones. It is readily apparent,therefore, that it would be desirable to provide, where possible,adjustable timing apparatus for controlling the sequence of operation offluid amplifiers or similar devices, such timing apparatus beingminutely adjustable for minute corrections in said sequence ofoperations and selectively adjustable through a wide range for varyingsaid sequence of operations. Accordingly, the present invention relatesto timing apparatus for controlling repetitive sequences of operationsof fluid amplifiers or similar fluid actuated devices, such apparatusbeing readily adjustable for either minutely regulating or forcompletely changing said sequences of operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In carrying out the invention there is provideda drive shaft mounted for driven rotation and supporting against3,500,861 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 its periphery a plurality ofspaced-apart cylindrical members normally engaged for rotation with saidshaft but each manually readily removable from engagement therewith andindependently rotatively movable, each such member embodying a fluidpassage extending therethrough. The input tubes of fluid amplifiers orother pressurized fluid actuated devices can be disposed, for selectiveactuation thereof in the paths of travel of said passages duringrotation of said members to receive, from one end of such passages, jetsof fluid supplied to the opposite end of the passages during rotation ofsaid shaft and members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 of the drawings comprises aside elevational view of one of the forms of the apparatus embodying theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating a modification of certainparts of the apparatus of the invention,

FIGv 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrating an alternative formof apparatus embodying the invention,

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 5 takengenerally along line -66 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of thefigures of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2and 3, there is shown a longitudinal drive shaft 11 whose ends extendthrough suitable rotary bearings (not shown) provided in vertical endportions 12 and 13 of a suitable U-shaped support frame 14. Shaft 11 isretained within said bearings in any convenient manner such as, forexample, by split rings 16 and 17 disposed in cooperative groovesprovided in the outer periphery of shaft 11. For the purpose ofproviding driven rotation of shaft 11, a pulley 18 is provided on suchshaft and is held thereon by a set screw 19 (FIG. 2) tightened against aflat portion 11a on shaft 11. The inner periphery of pulley 18 has aflat portion corresponding to said portion 11a to assure againstrotational movement of the pulley upon the shaft. An idler shaft orroller 21 (FIGS. 2 and 3) also extends through suitable bearings (alsonot shown) provided in vertical end portions 12 and 13 of frame 14, suchshaft being retained within such bearings in any convenient manner, suchas by split rings 22 and 23 disposed in cooperative grooves provided inthe outer periphery of shaft 21.

A series of spaced-apart cylindrical members, such as 26, havingcircular outer peripheries 26a are provided, such peripheries of themembers bearing against the outer peripheries of shafts 11 and 21 undertheir own weight, that is, the circular peripheries of the members, suchas 26, are engaged or urged downwardly against the outer peripheries ofsaid shafts by the force of gravity. By such arrangement it will beapparent that any rotational motion imparted to shaft -11 by means ofpulley 18 will, due to frictional engagement of said cylindrical memberswith said shaft, in turn be imparted to such members. It is pointed out,however, that if it is considered expedient or desirable to do so, theportions along the length of the outer periphery of shaft 11 with whichthe circular outer peripheries of the members, such as 26, are engaged,and, such outer peripheries of such members, may be provided withcooperative gear teeth to provide a more positive rotational drivingengagement between said shaft and each of said members.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, each cylindrical member, such as 26, isprovided with a fluid passage, such as 27, extending therethrough fromone end or face of the respective cylindrical member through the otherend or face thereof. Alternatively, and if found desirable or expedient,each member, such as 26, may be provided with a fluid passage such as 28(FIG. 4) which extends through each respective member in a chordal orsimilar direction between first and second points on the outer periphery26a of each respective member. Furthermore, if found necessary orexpedient, the passages extending through said members, such as 26, maybe in the form of slots such as designated by reference character 29 inFIG. 4 of the drawings. The passages such as 28 and 29 will be brieflyfurther discussed hereinafter.

For the purpose of maintaining the members, such as 26, properly spacedalong the length of shaft 11, there is provided a simple form of thrustbearings, such as bearings 31 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which may, for example, beball bearings rotatively disposed in suitable sockets provided insupport members such as 32. Support members 32 are, in turn, supportedon a rod or bar 33 which is secured in any convenient manner to the topsurface of the bottom of frame 14. One of said bearings is, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, disposed adjacent but preferably minutely spaced fromeach of the ends or faces of each cylindrical member, such as 26, andnear those portions of such ends which are near the bottom of eachrespective member at any time during the rotation of such member. Bysuch arrangement, if a cylindrical member such as 26 moves in eitherdirection laterally along shaft 11, during rotation of such shaft andsuch member, the end of the respective member will contact the bearing,such as 31, adjacent that end and further lateral movement of therespective member will be prevented. The arrangement just discussed willbe readily apparent from a brief glance at FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings.

A plurality of bearings, such as 36, and similar to bearings such as 31,are shown supported on the lower ends of support members 37 affixed tobars or rods 38 and 39 which are attached, in any convenient manner, tothe top edges of end portions 12 and 13 of frame 14. Such bearingsprevent, to the extent necessary, the toppling of each of the respectivemembers, such as 26, if such members are of insuflicient thickness, fromend to end thereof, to rotate on shafts 13 and 21 in a vertically stablemanner or attitude. It is pointed out at this time that, if bearingssuch as 36 are provided, the members, such as 26, can be substantiallythinner, from end to end thereof, than illustrated in the drawings.Furthermore, if said cylindrical members are substantially thicker fromend to end thereof, than illustrated, bearings, such as 36, need notnecessarily be provided since such thicker members would inherentlyrotate on shafts 13 and 21 in a vertically stable attitude.

A pressurized fluid manifold 41 is supported in end portions 12 and 13of frame 14, such manifold embodying a fluid passageway 42 to one end ofwhich pressurized fluid at a constant pressure is supplied from anysuitable source thereof, such source not being shown in the drawings forpurposes of simplification thereof. The other end of passageway 42 inmanifold 41 terminates near the end of the manifold.

There is associated with each cylindrical member, such as 26, apressurized fluid conduit, spout or nozzle, such as 43, each embodying afluid passage, such as 44. Each fluid passage such as 44 connects withsaid fluid passageway 42 in manifold 41. Thus pressurized fluid isconstantly emitted in jets from the ends of conduits or nozzles, such as43, each such jet being directed towards one end or face of therespectively associated cylindrical member, such as 26, and in the pathof rotation of an entrance end of the fluid passage, such as 27,extending through the respective member and terminating at said one endor face of such member. Each conduit, spout or nozzle, such as 43, isaflixed to manifold 41 so that the end of the respective noz- 4. zle isalways adjacent the same point in the path of rotation or travel of thefluid passage in the respectively associated member, such as 26, and,therefore, the fluid jet issuing from the end of each respective nozzlealways flows through the same path.

In employing the apparatus of the embodiment of the invention heretoforedescribed, an input tube, such as 46, of each of a plurality ofpressurized fluid actuated devices or fluid amplifiers which it isdesired to actuate in accordance with a selected program therefor, isdisposed and suitably supported, in any convenient manner, at a selectedpoint in the path of rotation or travel of the exit end of the fluidpassage, such as 27, in a selectively associated one of the members,such as 26. Said point in said path of rotation or travel is the pointtherein at which a jet of pressurized fluid will be issued from saidexit end of said fluid passage and the input end of the respective inputtube is located in said path of rotational travel so as to receive saidfluid jet. In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings,said point is a point precisely opposite or in alignment with the end ofeach respective conduit or nozzle 43. If, for example, the passagesextending through the members, such as 26, do not extend therethrough inthe shortest direction from one of the faces of each such member to theopposite face thereof, that is, if such passages extend through theirrespective members in diagonal, curved or crooked or otherwise deviouspaths, said selected points in the paths of rotation or travel of theexit ends of the passages will vary accordingly. This will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art.

Assuming now that the input tubes of a plurality of pressurized fluidactuated devices are arranged as outlined above and as shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3 of the drawings, that pulley 18 is connected by a suitable drivebelt to a source of motive power suitable for rotationally driving shaft11 and that manifold 41 is connected to said source of constantpressure. pressurized fluid, it will be apparent that each of themembers, such as 26, is being driven in synchronism with the rotation ofshaft 11 and that jets of fluid are issuing from the ends of each of thefluid conduits or nozzles such as 43 to impinge upon the respectivefaces of members 26. As the passage, such as 27, in each respectivemember, such as 26, passes a selected location, illustrated by thelocation of passage 27 shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a jet ofpressurized fluid is supplied to the entrance end of such passage, andflows through the passage to exit from the exit end of the passage andenter the end of the respectively associated input tube, such as 46, andactuate the respective pressurized fluid actuated device or fluidamplifier. It is apparent, therefore, that the sequence of actuation ofsaid fluid devices depends on the rotational position of each of saidmembers, such as 26, relative to the rotational positions of the othersof such members. If it is desired to regulate, adjust or vary saidsequence of actuation of said fluid devices, it is only necessary tomanually raise or lift one or more of the members, such as 26, out ofcontact or engagement with shaft 13, and preferably also out ofengagement with shaft 21, and, thereby, temporarily interrupt furtherrotation of the raised or lifted member or members. Each such member is,of course, thereafter again lowered into contact with said shafts.Additional or alternative adjustment, regulation, or variation of theprograms for said fluid devices can be quickly made by lifting orraising one or more members, as described, and manually rotating eachsuch raised member and then again lowering each member as discussedabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the manualrotation or interruption of rotation of the members, such as 26, asdescribed above, alters or varies the rotational positions of one ormore passages 27 relative to the rotational positions of such passagesin others of said members, and that the sequence of actuation of saidfluid devices, that is, the program therefore, may thus be varied,regulated or adjusted.

Referring further to FIG. 4, there is shown a fluid conduit or nozzle 47which may correspond to a nozzle or conduit such as 43. There is alsoshown the input tube 48 of a pressurized fluid actuated device or fluidamplifier, such input tube corresponding to an input tube such as 46.Such nozzle and tube are arranged so that a fluid jet issuing fromnozzle 47 will be supplied to input tube 48 whenever passage 28 reachesits location shown in FIG. 4 during rotation of the respective member26. Thus, as previously mentioned, the fluid passage extending througheach respective cylindrical member, such as 26, may extend in a chordaldirection through each respective member.

If the pressurized fluid actuated devices to be actuated by jets ofpressurized fluid are of a type that are normally biased to a firstcondition and are actuated to a second condition when and only so longas jets of pressurized fluid are supplied thereto, each such devicereverting to its biased or first condition upon termination of therespective jet supplied thereto, a slotted passage such as passage 29(FIG. 4) previously discussed is employed for controlling the actuationof the devices.

Referring now to FIG. 5, 6 and 7, the alternative form of apparatusembodying the invention will be briefly discussed. Since the apparatusshown in such figures of the drawings is similar to an operates insubstantially the same manner as the embodiment of the inventiondiscussed heretofore in detail, only those features of the alternativeembodiment which it is considered necessary to discuss to assure anunderstanding thereof will be treated in any detail.

A support frame 54 rotatably supports a drive shaft 51 and an axle 61.There are disposed upon axle 61 a plurality of idler rollers, such as 60(FIG. 6), which are rotatable upon said axle and held againstlongitudinal movement along said axle by split rings such as 60a and60!). A series of annular cylindrical members, such as 56, havingcircular inner peripheries, such as 56a, (FIG. 7) are disposed on driveshaft 51 and a respectively associated one of said rollers, such as 60,with said inner peripheries of the cylindrical members bearing, underthe weight of such members, against the outer peripheries of shaft 51and each respectively associated one of said rollers. That is to say,the inner peripheries of each of said annular cylindrical members areengaged or urged downwardly against the outer peripheries of shaft 51and rollers, such as 60, under the force of gravity. Thus, such membersin effect hang on said shift and rollers. It is readily apparent,therefore, that said members fricationally engage shaft 51 in arotationally driven relationship therewith. If considered expedient ordesirable the outer periphery of shaft 51 and the inner peripheries ofthe annular cylindrical members, such as 56, can each be provided withcooperatively intermeshing gear teeth for a more positive drivingrelationship between said shaft and members.

Each of the members, such as 56, is provided with a fluid passage, suchas 67, extending through each respective member from one end or facethereof through the other end or face of such member. As mentioned incom junction with member 26 and as shown in FIG. 4, fluid passages suchas 29, that is, in the form of a slot, can be provided in the members,such as 56, if necessary. Furthermore, chordal fluid passages, such as28 (FIG. 4), can be provided in each of said annular cylindrical membersif found desirable or expedient to do so.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a pairof bearing support bars on rods 78 and 79 are secured to the endportions of frame 54 adjacent the lower portions thereof and in anyconvenient manner. Ball bearings, such as 76, are rotatably supported inbearing support members, such as 77, which are in turn secured to saidsupport bars or rods 78 and 79. The ball bearings, such as 76, aredisposed adjacent opposite faces or ends of each of the members, such as56, and prevent any tendency of such members to laterally pendulateduring rotation of the members.

A support rod or bar 73 is attached to the top edges of the end portionsof frame 54 at approximately the centers of such portions. Bearingsupport members, such as 72, are attached to said rod and rotativelysupport ball bearings such as 71. First and second ones of each pair ofsuch bearings are disposed adjacent opposite faces or ends of each ofthe members, such as 56. The ball bearings, such as 71, are thrustbearings which prevent lateral movement of the annular cylindricalmembers, such as 56, longitudinally along shaft 51 and along therollers, such as 60.

The remainder of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 issubstantially the same as that of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and no furtherdetailed discussion of said apparatus is considered necessary to anunderstanding of the structure of the alternative embodiment of theinvention. Furthermore, the apparatus of such alternative embodimentopcrates and may be manually adjusted, regulated or varied in a mannersimilar to that previously discussed and no operational example of thealternative embodiment is believed necessary. It is pointed out,however, that an axle, such as 61, and associated rollers, such as 60',could as well be employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in theplace of idler shaft 21. Similarly, an idler shaft such as 21 could aswell be employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 in the place ofsaid axle and rollers. As also mentioned in conjunction with the firstdescribed embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical members, such as56, used in the second embodiment of the invention could be of greateror lesser thickness than that illustrated, if such is found desirable orexpedient. It is further pointed out that a greater number ofcylindrical members than that shown or a lesser number of such members,down to a minimum of two, could be employed in either embodiment of theinvention. Furthermore, said members could be spaced closer or fartherapart than shown in the drawings, as is believed obvious.

Although there is herein shown and described only two forms of apparatusembodying the invention, it will be understood that such is not intendedto be in any way limiting but that various changes and modifications maybe made therein within the purview of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable timing apparatus for providing selectively variableprogramming of a plurality of pressurized fluid actuated devices eachhaving a fluid input tube, such apparatus comprising, in combination,

(A) a plurality of cylindrical members each having a circular peripheryand each embodying a fluid passage extending through the respectivemember,

(B) a drive shaft horizontally supported for driven rotation about itslongitudinal axis;

(C) means including said drive shaft and at least one idler roller forsupporting said cylindrical members in a spaced-apart relationship witheach other, said circular peripheries of such members normally bearingagainst the periphery of said shaft under the force of gravity fordriven rotation with the shaft, each such member being independentlymanually movably away from said periphery of said shaft to rotationallyadjust the rotational position of such member in relationship to therespective rotational positions of each of the other such members; and

(D) means associated with each said cylindrical member for supplying ajet of pressurized fluid to one end of said fluid passage of therespective member each time such end of such passage passes a selectedpoint in its path of travel during rotation of such member by said driveshaft, whereby said input tubes of said fluid actuated devices can beselectively disposed in the paths of travel of the other ends of saidfluid passages for receipt of said fluid jets supplied to said firstends of such passages to thereby actuate said devices in accordance withthe program then selected therefor, and such program can be varied byrotationally adjusting the relative rotational positions of one or moreof said cylindrical members in relationship to the then respectiverotational positions of one or more of others of such members.

2. Apparatus in acordance with claim 1 and in which the circularperipheries of said cylindrical members normally bearing against theperiphery of said drive shaft are the outer peripheries of such members.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and in which said cylindricalmembers are annular and said circular peripheries thereof normallybearing against the periphery of said drive shaft are the innerperipheries of such members.

4. Timing apparatus for programming a plurality of pressurized fluidactuated devices each having at least one fluid input tube, suchapparatus comprising, in combination,

(A) a plurality of cylindrical members each having a circular peripheryand each embodying a fluid passage extending through the respectivemember,

(B) a drive shaft horizontally supported for driven rotation about itslongitudinal axis;

(C) means including said drive shaft for supporting said cylindricalmembers in a spaced-apart relationship with each other, said circularperipheries of such members being normally forced solely by their ownweight against the periphery of said shaft for driven rotationtherewith; and

(D) means associated with each said cylindrical member for supplying ajet of pressurized fluid to one end of said fluid passage of therespective member each time such end of such passage passes a selectedpoint tionally adjusting the relative rotational positionsof suchmembers in relationship to the then respective rotational positions ofone or more of others of such members.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 and in which the circularperipheries of said cylindrical members normally forced against theperiphery of said drive shaft are the outer peripheries of such members.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 and in which said cylindricalmembers are annular and said circular peripheries thereof normallyforced against the periphery of said drive shaft are the innerperipheries of such members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,965,076 12/1960 Zei'sloft 9133,202,180 8/1965 Gray 137-625.46'XR 3,216,326 11/1965 Rice et al.137625.46 XR 3,237,644 3/1966 Beck et al. 137-625.46 XR 3,241,668 3/1966Schonfeld et a1.

ROBERT G. NILSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

